Florida’s Anna Maria Island

Anna Maria Island is the Cinderella who didn’t get invited to the developer’s black-tie ball on Longboat Key, and she hasn’t regretted the snub one bit. In fact, Anna Maria looks prettier and more dignified than her sister key with each passing season. For starters, most of this 7.5 mile barrier island is accessible to the beach-going public, from Conquina Beach up to Holmes Beach. (The community of Anna Maria itself, at the north end, is a tougher nut to crack.)

No, this is not a nature sanctuary or National Seashore but a fully developed, family-friendly island. Growth here has been intelligently overseen, beginning with a concerted effort 30 years ago to enact and stick to a master plan. Than plan includes a height limit of three stories and a respectful attitude toward Mother Nature. The coastline hasn’t been dramatically tampered with or built on, and the result is a low-key sandy paradise that anyone would be proud to call home – or home away from home. If that’s not reason enough to visit, consider that this stretch of Florida’s West Coast once set a Guinness record for the most consecutive sunny days: 768 in a row. That’s more than two years’ worth!

Two bridges – Cortez (S.R. 684) and Palma Sola Causeway (S.R.64) – connect Anna Maria Island to the mainland city of Bradenton. At the south end, Gulf Drive (S.R. 789) joins the island with Longboat Key. There are three relaxed and contiguous communities on the island: Bradenton Beach (pop. 1,700), Holmes Beach (pop. 5,000), and Anna Maria (pop. 1,800). The towns all exhibit a funky, sun-baked character (hand-painted murals, slapdash houses, screened-in porches, mom-and-pop businesses) and a genuine, lived-in authenticity. The island’s inviting character has evolved naturally over generations as locals and loyal visitors have found a congenial common ground. These are the sort of unaffected beach towns I loved when I was a kid. I strongly feel that people still want real communities and experiences like these when they go on vacation.

Anna Maria Island has tried to surmount the slippery slope of social class. Room and board are affordable, and much of the low-key, low-to-the-ground real estate is within easy walking distance of the beach. The three towns collectively impart philosophies of “Come one, come all” and “Don’t worry, be happy.” Anna Maria is the quieter and most residential, making it a great place to rent a vacation home or villa. Holmes Beach is the largest, with roughly 5,000 year-round residents and three miles of beach. Bradenton Beach has sunk the deepest taproot, centered around the renovated Bradenton City Pier (built in 1921). At this bayside complex, you can stroll and fish or sit on one of the many benches after polishing off a chili cheese dog basket.

For more information, contact the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce, 5337 Gulf Drive North, Holmes Beach, FL 3421, 941/778-1541, www.annamariaislandchamber.org

61 Responses to “Florida’s Anna Maria Island”

  1. kennedy BR Says:

    i love everything connected to that!

  2. Article Writing Services Says:

    Hello Website Owner! I ran into your WordPress website through Google. We offer article writing services at 1 cent per word – that is $5 for a 500 word article! Our writers are US natives and we scan each of our articles through Copyscape to ensure your content is unique. If you would like somebody to write your content, we would be more than happy to do it!

  3. Better SEO Says:

    Hello Blogger! I discovered your blog on Google and as an SEO specialist I have an offer for you that I think you will find very useful. There is a WordPress addon that automatically does SEO for your website for higher rankings, it’s a 1-click install that’s not expensive at all and will help you make more money and drive more traffic to your blog. Click my name to check it out. Thanks for your time.

  4. sexchat Says:

    It’s very usefull information that you share over here. I wanna thank you for sharing this gesprek met honderden geile sexcam dames and I wanna visit your website more when you’ll keep up the good work and share more posts like these.

  5. Neal Says:

    Hey, you stated in a much more direct way what I was trying to communicate, thanks, I will recommend your site to my friends.

    My blog:
    rachat credit ligne et rachat de credit simulation

  6. SEO Jay Says:

    Hello website owner! I discovered your website on Google and as an SEO specialist I have an offer for you that I think you will find very useful. There’s a WordPress Plugin that automatically Search optimizes your website for higher rankings, it’s a 1-click install that’s not expensive at all and will help you make more money and drive more visitors to your blog. Click my name to check it out. Thanks for your time.

  7. gratis sex dating Says:

    hi i found your blog today and I have read some good posts over here. I just wanna thanks you for publicing sexdate it so we all can learn about it!

  8. computer repair calgary Says:

    I absolutely love

  9. strony www Says:

    18. Hi there, You have done an incredible job. I will definitely digg it and personally suggest to my friends. I’m sure they’ll be benefited from this site.

  10. strony internetowe Says:

    15. Simply wish to say your article is as surprising. The clarity in your post is just excellent and i could assume you’re an expert on this subject. Fine with your permission let me to grab your RSS feed to keep updated with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please keep up the gratifying work.

  11. strony www Says:

    21. Pretty section of content. I just stumbled upon your site and in accession capital to assert that I acquire in fact enjoyed account your blog posts. Anyway I’ll be subscribing to your augment and even I achievement you access consistently rapidly.

  12. strony www Says:

    22. My brother suggested I might like this web site. He was totally right. This post actually made my day. You can not imagine just how much time I had spent for this info! Thanks!

  13. direct hotels Says:

    Cool travel website you have, also sent to my 14k facebook friends

  14. domy warszawa Says:

    27. Wow, incredible blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you make blogging look easy. The overall look of your site is fantastic, as well as the content!

  15. domy warszawa Says:

    6. Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wished to say that I’ve really enjoyed surfing around your blog posts. After all I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again very soon!

  16. domy warszawa Says:

    7. I like the valuable info you provide in your articles. I will bookmark your weblog and check again here regularly. I’m quite certain I will learn many new stuff right here! Good luck for the next! 8. I think this is among the most important info for me. And I’m glad reading your article. But should remark on few general things, The website style is wonderful, the articles is really great : D. Good job, cheers

  17. strony www Says:

    28. I am not sure where you’re getting your information, but good topic. I needs to spend some time learning much more or understanding more. Thanks for fantastic info I was looking for this info for my mission.

  18. Thomas Imbruglia Says:

    Wait a minute! I have something important that you might like :-) …My friends and I (we’re from Florida) have been watching this blog for a while and we really like it so we decided to share something with you that’s been working for us in blogging: It shows how anyone living literally anywhere in the world can go from zero to $10,000 a month in the shortest time possible. I’ve been doing it for the last couple days and yesterday I said I was making $70/day. This morning I woke up with $71.36 already in my account!! I can’t wait to see where I end up today, everyone is so excited about Anthony’s awesome system. The biggest plus? All this is free income! Definitely check it out, spend just 30 seconds watching the free video about this amazing guy:

  19. Top Refrigerators Says:

    I totally concur with you. Thanks a bunch for validating my opinion! Will search your blog and come back in the future.

  20. keyword tool Says:

    Keep up the nice work!

  21. Craig Defenderfer Says:

    Wait a minute! I have an update on our progress :-) …My friends and I (we’re from Florida) have been watching this blog for a while and we really like it so we decided to share something with you that’s been working for us in blogging: It shows how anyone living literally anywhere in the world can go from zero to $10,000 a month in the shortest time possible. I’ve been doing it for the last couple days and yesterday I said I made $71 in the morning…It is officially a movement, I made THREE HUNDRED dollars yesterday. My friends and I are still shaking. I can’t wait to see where I end up today, everyone is so excited about Anthony’s awesome system. The biggest plus? All this is free income! Definitely check it out, spend just 30 seconds watching the free video about this amazing guy:

  22. free music downloading sites Says:

    I wanted to thank you for this great I definitely loved every little bit of it. I have you bookmarked your web site to check out the latest stuff you post.

  23. sex date Says:

    hi-ya i found your site today and I have read some awesome information over here. I just wanna thanks you for sharing sex it so we all can learn about it!

  24. 外遇 Says:

    Hands down, Apple’s app store wins by a mile. It’s a huge selection of all sorts of apps vs a rather sad selection of a handful for Zune. Microsoft has plans, especially in the realm of games, but I’m not sure I’d want to bet on the future if this aspect is important to you. The iPod is a much better choice in that case.

  25. gendeng Says:

    An engrossing discussion is worth notice. I expect that you should compose solon on this theme, it power not be a inhibition subject but generally grouping are not sufficiency to mouth on specified topics. To the next. Cheers like your Florida Beach Blog » Blog Archive » Florida’s Anna Maria Island.

  26. Calvin Kline Says:

    I like this ,I agree your right on and you have got great infomation… Thanks

  27. Marcelo Domianus Says:

    There are certainly lots of details like that to consider. That is a great point out bring up. I offer the thoughts above as general inspiration but clearly you’ll find questions like the just one you bring up where it is important will be working throughout honest good faith. I don? t know if best practices have emerged around things like that, but I am sure your job is clearly identified as a fair game. Both boys and girls have the impact of just any moment’s pleasure, for the rest in their lives.

  28. viagra pillen bestellen Says:

    good day I just read your comment and I wanna thank you for the fantastic viagra information in it! Please keep up the good work guys!

  29. calgary computer repair Says:

    The title of your blog: (Florida Beach Blog » Blog Archive » Florida’s Anna Maria Island) seemed intresting so thats how I ended up here!

  30. Lucilla Sprawls Says:

    Awesome site, I really like it.

  31. Danny Cercone Says:

    Wait a minute! I have something important that you might like :-) …My friends and I (we’re from Florida) have been watching this blog for a while and we really like it so we decided to share something with you that’s been working for us in blogging: It shows how anyone living literally anywhere in the world can go from zero to $10,000 a month in the shortest time possible. I’ve been doing it for the last couple days and remember how I said I was making $70/day. This morning I woke up with $91.21 already in my account!! I can’t wait to see where I end up today, everyone is so excited about Anthony’s awesome system. The biggest plus? All this is free income! Definitely check it out, spend just 30 seconds watching the free video about this amazing guy:

  32. Post To Wordpress Automatically Says:

    WP-AutoPoster is a simple-to-use WordPress plugin that allows you to ‘Drip Feed’ your content out over weeks, months, and even years! You can upload text files, PLR, even HTML to be posted randomly to your BLOG, exactly as a human would do it only BETTER! Our plugin is only $29.99 (one-time fee)

  33. Bail Bonds Says:

    I subscribed to your rss :-)

  34. LONGOR Says:

    Thankyou for sharing Florida Beach Blog » Blog Archive » Florida’s Anna Maria Island with us keep update bro love your article about Florida Beach Blog » Blog Archive » Florida’s Anna Maria Island .

  35. chat forum Says:

    rustic games is the one of the largest games promoter, with more than 3.5 million games from top publishers. They have a special deal at the moment where they are giving away 25 FREE iPad2 check it out

  36. House Training A Puppy Says:

    An riveting treatment is couturier remark. I conceive that you should create writer on this message, it mightiness not be a preconception somebody but generally fill are not sufficiency to communicate on much topics. To the succeeding. Cheers like your Florida Beach Blog » Blog Archive » Florida’s Anna Maria Island.

  37. House Training A Puppy Says:

    An gripping speech is designer statement. I cerebrate that you should make more on this topic, it might not be a inhibition content but mostly grouping are not sufficiency to mouth on much topics. To the succeeding. Cheers like your Florida Beach Blog » Blog Archive » Florida’s Anna Maria Island.

  38. House Training A Puppy Says:

    An unputdownable treatment is worth remark. I expect that you should correspond statesman on this matter, it mightiness not be a bias somebody but generally fill are not enough to talk on much topics. To the next. Cheers like your Florida Beach Blog » Blog Archive » Florida’s Anna Maria Island.

  39. purse valley Says:

    F*CK, this blog sucks! Just my $0.02.

  40. sex Says:

    hi i found your site today and I have read some awesome articles over here. I just wanna thanks you for publicing sex date it so we all can learn about it!

  41. LONGOR Says:

    Regards for sharing Florida Beach Blog » Blog Archive » Florida’s Anna Maria Island with us keep update bro love your article about Florida Beach Blog » Blog Archive » Florida’s Anna Maria Island .

  42. LONGOR Says:

    Appreciate it for sharing Florida Beach Blog » Blog Archive » Florida’s Anna Maria Island with us keep update bro love your article about Florida Beach Blog » Blog Archive » Florida’s Anna Maria Island .

  43. SEO John Says:

    Hello website owner! I found your blog on Google and as an SEO specialist I have a tip for you that I think you will find very useful. There’s a WordPress addon that automatically Search optimizes your page for higher rankings, it’s a 1-click install that’s not expensive at all and will help you make more money and drive more visitors to your blog. Click my username to check it out. Thanks for reading.

  44. LONGOR Says:

    Thanks for sharing Florida Beach Blog » Blog Archive » Florida’s Anna Maria Island with us keep update bro love your article about Florida Beach Blog » Blog Archive » Florida’s Anna Maria Island .

  45. Behandla Acne Says:

    howdy. Awesome post and a good blog

  46. Chad Hargrave Says:

    usually a big fan associated with linking in order to blog owners which i really like but don’t obtain a lot of link love through.

  47. Top Refrigerators Says:

    You are making some valid points, needless to say, but I wouldn’t say I’m in total agreement. On the other hand, I really do thank you for way of thinking and recognize the point that other folks have very similar considerations. Thank you.

  48. Lane Lockner Says:

    Hey, congrats! Your site was mentioned in this video:

  49. mattwuv Says:

    Husband and wife for just weeks, Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries were currently sounding like an aged married few.
    “How am I going to acquire my job and reside in Minnesota?” Kardashian gripes to Humphries inside of a scene from a preview clip of her E! exhibit Kourtney and Kim Consider New york.
    “Baby,” Humphries snaps again, “by time you might have children and they are in class, nobody will care about you.” . trick or treat times

  50. myp2p alternative football Says:

    Good day! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was wondering which blog platform are you using for this site? I’m getting fed up of WordPress because I’ve had problems with hackers and I’m looking at alternatives for another platform. I would be awesome if you could point me in the direction of a good platform.

  51. call of duty mods Says:

    Mornin ! I had subscribed your site for fascinating articles, I am also heading to get started on a web site on health product vigrx plus , you may also get some unique subject material for me on cheap vigrx plus. Ciao! Black Ops cheats

  52. Loyd Maontesano Says:

    Impressive blog! But have you thought about teaming up with this guy on it:

  53. SEO John Says:

    Hello website owner! I found your blog using Google and as a Search engine optimizer I have an offer for you that I think you will find very useful. There is a WordPress addon that automatically does SEO for your website for better rankings, it’s a 1-click setup that’s not expensive at all and will help you make more money and drive more visitors to your blog. Click my name to take a look. Thanks for your time.

  54. Wiki Italia Says:

    Big thanks for the great particularly regarding the furry ferrets post.

  55. chair Says:

    Great information, thanks for the share!

  56. my p2p4u football Says:

    I’ve recently started a site, and the information you provide on this website has helped me greatly. Thanx for all of your time & work.

  57. call of duty mods Says:

    i might to see this around the ps3 and its so addicting played since july and im still not bored with it Black Ops mods

  58. Samuel Belli Says:

    I am not sure where you are getting your info, but good topic. I needs to spend some time learning much more or understanding more. Thanks for excellent info I was looking for this information for my mission.

  59. Rich Says:

    Webmaster, I am the admin at SEOPlugins.org. We profile SEO Plugins for WordPress blogs for on-site and off-site SEO. I’d like to invite you to check out our recent profile for a pretty amazing plugin which can double or triple traffic for a Worpdress blog. You can delete this comment, I didn’t want to comment on your blog, just wanted to drop you a personal message. Thanks, Rich

  60. hotele łódzkie Says:

    b

  61. MP3Panda reviews Says:

    Pretty good post. I just came across your site and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your opinions. Any way I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon.